ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 302364
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| Date: | Friday 10 July 2020 |
| Time: | 11:30 LT |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 II |
| Owner/operator: | Helicopter Air Alaska |
| Registration: | N878CB |
| MSN: | 10404 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2004 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3323 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-540 AE1A5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Ketchikan, Alaska -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Standing |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Neets Bay, AK |
| Ketchikan, AK | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that, after landing on an elevated helicopter deck and reducing the rotor RPM, he signaled for the brush cutting ground crew leader to approach the helicopter to collect additional chainsaw bars that were being dropped off. He added that, the crew leader indicated that two of the three chainsaw bars were not the correct bars needed, and then threw an incorrect bar away from the helicopter. Subsequently, the bar impacted a main rotor blade, which resulted in substantial damage.
The pilot reported that the brush cutting crew had been briefed before operations on gear security, rotor awareness, and safe practices when working around the helicopter. The crew leader admitted to a lapse in judgment brought on by stress and frustration.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The crew leader's decision to throw a chainsaw bar into the moving arc of the main rotor blade.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ANC20CA068
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 30 August 2021 | N878CB | Helicopter Air Alaska | 0 | Pelican, Alaska | |
sub |
| Heavy landing | ||||||
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Dec-2023 14:46 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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